After the first “John Wick” film hit theaters and became a modest hit, a sequel was quickly ordered. Could this be yet another franchise for Keanu Reeves? Then “John Wick: Chapter 2” was an even bigger hit, leading everyone to take this whole assassin franchise thing seriously. The icing on the cake was this year’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” that not only kept fans excited but once again became an even bigger box office hit than previous entries. It was only a matter of time before Lionsgate spun it off into a new series. So, let’s all welcome “Ballerina” to the ‘John Wick’ universe.
Deadline is reporting that Lionsgate has signed director Len Wiseman to helm the upcoming “John Wick” spin-off film, simply titled “Ballerina.” The film is written by Shay Hatten, the writer responsible for ‘Parabellum,’ as well as the upcoming zombie film “Army of the Dead,” directed by Zack Snyder. It’s unclear if Keanu Reeves will have a role in the film, but the report says that it’ll likely be a cameo if anything.
Wiseman is probably best known for his “Underworld” films, so clearly the man knows how to make a female-fronted action film. He’s also the director of films such as “Live Free or Die Hard” and the ill-fated “Total Recall” remake. So, you know, not the best track record. Let’s just hope “Ballerina” is more “Underworld” than “Total Recall.”
“Ballerina,” as the name suggests, follows the tragic story of a dancer who is dealing with the death of her family. And considering this is a “John Wick” story, the ballerina also has a certain set of badass skills that will allow her to seek out revenge against those who hurt her loved ones. Basically, with no offense to Hatten, Wiseman, and Lionsgate, “Ballerina” is “John Wick” but with a young female protagonist seeking revenge for the murder of her family instead of a middle-aged man seeking revenge for the murder of his family. How much do you want to bet there’s a dog involved?
That being said, if Lionsgate can pump out three great “John Wick” films in a row, we have to give “Ballerina” the benefit of the doubt. Plus, considering Reeves and ‘Wick’ helmer Chad Stahelski are producing, alongside Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, there’s hope that this is more than just an obvious cash grab to act as an appetizer before the “John Wick: Chapter 4” main course.
